Women in Congress, 1917-2018: Service Dates and Committee Assignments by Member, and Lists by State and Congress

Changes from May 8, 2017 to July 12, 2017

This page shows textual changes in the document between the two versions indicated in the dates above. Textual matter removed in the later version is indicated with red strikethrough and textual matter added in the later version is indicated with blue.

Women in Congress, 1917-2017: Biographical and Committee Assignment Information, and Listings by State and Congress

Tables

Summary

One hundred nineten women currently serve in the 115th Congress: 8889 in the House, includingDelegates and the Resident Commissioner for Puerto Rico (65 Democrats and 2324 Republicans), and 21 in the Senate (16 Democrats and 5 Republicans). This is similar tohigher than the previous record from the 114th Congress (108 women initially sworn in, and 1 House Member subsequently elected).

The first woman elected to Congress was Representative Jeannette Rankin (R-MT, 1917-1919, 1941-1943). The first woman to serve in the Senate was Rebecca Latimer Felton (D-GA). She was appointed in 1922 and served for one day.

A total of 325326 women have been elected or appointed to Congress, 211 Democrats and 114115 Republicans. Of these women, 275276 (178 Democrats, 9798 Republicans) have been elected only to the House of Representatives; 38 (24 Democrats, 14 Republicans) have been elected or appointed only to the Senate; and 12 (9 Democrats, 3 Republicans) have served in both houses. These figures include six non-voting Delegates, one each from Guam, Hawaii, the District of Columbia, and American Samoa, and two from the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as one Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico. Of the 50 women who have been elected or appointed to the Senate, 14 were first appointed and five were first elected to fill unexpired terms.

A total of 41 African American women have served in Congress (2 in the Senate, 39 in the House), including 21 serving in the 115th Congress. Thirteen Hispanic women have been elected to the House, and one to the Senate; 11 serve in the 115th Congress. Thirteen Asian Pacific American women have served in Congress (10 in the House, one in the Senate, and two in both the House and Senate), including 11 in the 115th Congress.

In the 115th Congress, three women chair House committees, one woman chairs a Senate standing committee, and one woman chairs a Senate select committee.

This report includes biographical information, including the names, committee assignments, dates of service, listings by Congress and state, and (for Representatives) congressional districts of the 325326 women who have been elected or appointed to Congress. It will be updated when there are relevant changes in the makeup of Congress.

For additional information, including a discussion of the impact of women in Congress as well as historical information, including the number and percentage of women in Congress over time, data on entry to Congress, comparisons to international and state legislatures, tenure, firsts for women in Congress, women in leadership, and African American, Asian Pacific American, and Hispanic women in Congress, see CRS Report R43244, Women in Congress: Historical Overview, Tables, and DiscussionSummary Statistics and Brief Overview, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

Women in Congress, 1917-2017: Biographical and Committee Assignment Information, and Listings by State and Congress

Introduction

Three hundred twenty-fivesix women have been elected or appointed to Congress.1 Jeannette Rankin (R-MT) has the distinction of being the first woman elected to serve in Congress. On November 9, 1916, she was elected to the House of Representatives as Montana's Representative-at-Large to the 65th Congress (1917-1919).2

275276 (178 Democrats, 9798 Republicans) women who have been elected only in the House of Representatives, including 7 (4 Democrats, 3 Republicans) women who have served as Delegates or Resident Commissioners in the House;4

38 (24 Democrats, 14 Republicans) women who have been elected or appointed only in the Senate;

12 (9 Democrats, 3 Republicans) women who have been elected or appointed in both houses.

One hundred nineten women serve in the 115th Congress:

21 in the Senate (16 Democrats and 5 Republicans), and

8889 in the House (65 Democrats and 2324 Republicans). Four of the women who serve in the House are Delegates, representing the District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands; three are Democrats, and one is Republican. Another woman, a Republican, is the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico.

Not including Delegates and the Resident Commissioner, women currently hold 8384 (19.13%) seats in the House of Representatives and 21 (21%) seats in the Senate, totaling 104105 (19.46%) of the 535 voting seats in the 115th Congress.

Including Delegates and the Resident Commissioner, women currently hold 8889 seats in the House of Representatives, increasing the total to 109110 seats (20.12%) in the entire Congress.

This report includes biographical information, including the names, committee assignments, dates of service, listings by Congress and state, and (for Representatives) congressional districts of the 325326 women who have been elected or appointed to Congress. It will be updated when there are relevant changes in the makeup of Congress.

For additional information, including a discussion of the impact of women in Congress as well as historical information, including the number and percentage of women in Congress over time, data on entry to Congress, comparisons to international and state legislatures, tenure, firsts for women in Congress, women in leadership, and African American and Asian Pacific American women in Congress, see CRS Report R43244, Women in Congress: Historical Overview, Tables, and DiscussionSummary Statistics and Brief Overview, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

Tables and Data

The listlists and tables that follow provide information on women Members of Congress, including the dates they were first elected or appointed, the Congresses in which they served, the committees on which they served, and, where relevant, the committees they chaired or served on as ranking Member.

Table 1 lists all the women who have served in each Congress, by Congress. Table 2 lists the women Members of Congress, by state. Table 3 provides the total number of women in each Congress.

a broad range of Congressional Quarterly and Leadership Directories Inc. publications; and

the Women in Congresswebsite, at http://womenincongress.house.gov, maintained by the House of Representatives' Office of the Historian and the Office of Art and Archives, Office of the Clerk.

The 115th Congress committee assignments sources are the

House, Official Alphabetical List of the Members with Committee Assignments in the 115115th Congress,available from the Clerk of the House's website at http://clerk.house.gov/committee_info/oal.aspx; and

The names and jurisdiction of House and Senate committees have changed many times over the years. In the interest of brevity, this report does not identify all historical name changes. The committee names listed are for the most part those in effect at the time a Member served on the panel.

Alphabetical Listing, Including Dates of Service and Committee Assignments5

ABEL, HAZEL HEMPEL. Republican; Nebraska, Senator. Elected to the 83rd Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Dwight P. Griswold and filled in the interim by Eva Bowring. (served Nov. 8, 1954 until her resignation Dec. 31, 1954)

ADAMS, ALMA S. Democrat; North Carolina, 12th District. Elected to the 113th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Melvin L. Watt, and also elected to the 114th– 115th Congresses. (served Nov. 4, 2014 - present)

ALLEN, MARYON PITTMAN. Democrat; Alabama, Senator. Appointed to the 95th Congress June 8, 1978, to fill vacancy caused by the death of husband James B. Allen. (served June 12, 1978 - Jan. 3, 1979)

Committee Assignments

Congress

S. Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

95th

S. Judiciary

95th

Committee assignments:

S. Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (95th Congress)

S. Judiciary (95th Congress)

ANDREWS, ELIZABETH B. Democrat; Alabama, 3rd District. Elected to the 92nd Congress in an April 4, 1972, special election to fill vacancy caused by the death of husband George W. Andrews. (served April 10, 1972 - Jan. 3, 1973)

Committee Assignments

Congress

H. Post Office and Civil Service

92nd

Committee assignment:

H. Post Office and Civil Service (92nd Congress)

ASHBROOK, JEAN. Republican; Ohio, 17th District. Elected to the 97th Congress in a June 29, 1982, special election to fill vacancy caused by the death of husband John M. Ashbrook. (served July 12, 1982 - Jan. 3, 1983)

BOGGS, CORINNE C. (LINDY). Democrat; Louisiana, 2nd District. Elected to the 93rd Congress in a March 20, 1973, special election to fill vacancy caused by the death of husband Thomas Hale Boggs, Sr.; reelected to the 94th-101st Congresses. (served March 27, 1973 - Jan. 3, 1991)

BONAMICI, SUZANNE. Democrat; Oregon, 1st District. Elected to the 112th Congress in a Jan. 31, 2012, special election to fill vacancy caused by resignation of David Wu; reelected to the 113th - 115th Congresses. (served Feb. 7, 2012 - present)

Committee Assignments

Congress

H. Budget

112th

Committee assignments:

H. Budget (112th Congress)

H. Science, Space and Technology

(112th- 115th

115th Congresses)
H. Education and the Workforce

(113th- 115th

115th Congresses)BONO MACK, MARY. Republican; California, 44th District (105th-107th Congresses) and 45th District (108th-112th Congresses). Elected to the 105th Congress in an April 7, 1998, special election to fill vacancy caused by the death of husband Sonny Bono; reelected to the 106th-112th Congresses. (served April 20, 1998 - Jan. 3, 2013)

115th Congresses)BUCHANAN, VERA DAERR. Democrat; Pennsylvania, 30th District. Elected to the 82nd Congress in a July 24, 1951, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of husband Frank Buchanan; reelected to the 83rd- 84th Congresses. (served August 1, 1951 until her death Nov. 26, 1955)

95th Congresses)BURTON, SALA. Democrat; California, 5th District. Elected to the 98th Congress in a June 21, 1983, special election, to fill vacancy caused by death of husband Phillip Burton; reelected to the 99th- 100th Congresses. (served June 28, 1983 until her death Feb. 1, 1987)

102nd Congresses)BYRON, KATHARINE EDGAR. Democrat; Maryland, 6th District. Elected to the 77th Congress in a May 27, 1941, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of husband William Devereux Byron. (served June 11, 1941 - Jan. 3, 1943)

Committee Assignments

Congress

H. Civil Service

77th

H. War Claims

77th

Committee assignments:

H. Civil Service (77th Congress)

H. War Claims (77th Congress)

CANTWELL, MARIA. Democrat; Washington, 1st District. Elected to the 103rd Congress (served in House Jan. 3, 1993 - Jan. 3, 1995). Subsequently elected to the Senate in 2000 and reelected in 2006 and 2012. (served in Senate Jan. 3, 2001 - present)

(115th Congress)CAPPS, LOIS. Democrat; California, 22nd District (105th-107th Congresses), 23rd District (108th-112th Congresses) and 24th District (113th – 114th Congress). Elected to the 105th Congress in a March 9, 1998, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of husband Walter Capps; reelected to the 106th-114th Congresses. (served March 17, 1998 - Jan. 3. 2017)

CLAYTON, EVA. Democrat; North Carolina, 1st District. Elected to the 102nd Congress Nov. 3, 1992, to fill vacancy caused by death of Walter Jones; simultaneously elected to the 103rd Congress; reelected to the 104th-107th Congresses. (served Nov. 5, 1992 - Jan. 3, 2003)

Committee Assignments

Congress

H. Agriculture

103rd- 107th

H. Small Business

103rd- 104th

H. Budget

105th- Committee assignments:

H. Agriculture (103rd-107th Congresses)

H. Small Business (103rd-104th Congresses)

H. Budget (105th-107th Congresses)

107th

CLINTON, HILLARY RODHAM. Democrat; New York, Senator. Elected to the Senate in 2000 and reelected in 2006. (served Jan. 3, 2001 until her resignation Jan. 21, 2009, to become Secretary of State). First Lady of the United States, 1993-2001.

COLLINS, CARDISS. Democrat; Illinois, 7th District. Elected to the 93rd Congress in a June 5, 1973, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of husband George W. Collins; reelected to the 94th-104th Congresses (served June 7, 1973 - Jan. 3, 1997). First female chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, 96th Congress.

EDWARDS, DONNA. Democrat; Maryland, 4th District. Elected to the 110th Congress in a June 17, 2008, special election to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of Albert Wynn; reelected to the 111th- 114th Congresses. (served June 19, 2008 – Jan. 3, 2017)

113th-114th Congresses)EMERSON, JO ANN. Republican; Missouri, 8th District. Elected to the 104th Congress in a Nov. 5, 1996, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of husband, Bill Emerson, and simultaneously to the 105th Congress; reelected to the 106th- 113th Congresses. (served Nov. 5, 1996, until her resignation Jan. 22, 2013)

FARRINGTON, MARY ELIZABETH PRUETT. Republican; Delegate from Hawaii. Elected to the 83rd Congress in a July 31, 1954, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of husband, Joseph R. Farrington; reelected to the 84th Congress. (served August 4, 1954 - Jan. 3, 1957)

Committee Assignments

Congress

H. Agriculture

83rd- 84th

H. Armed Services

83rd- 84th

Committee assignments:

H. Agriculture (83rd-84th Congresses)

H. Armed Services (83rd-84th Congresses)

H. Interior and Insular Affairs

(83rd- 84th

84th Congresses)FEINSTEIN, DIANNE. Democrat; California, Senator. Elected to the Senate Nov. 3, 1992, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Pete Wilson. Subsequently elected to a full term on Nov. 8, 1994, and reelected in 2000, 2006, and 2012. (served Nov. 10, 1992 - present)

FELTON, REBECCA LATIMER. Democrat; Georgia, Senator. Appointed to the Senate on Oct. 3, 1922, to fill vacancy caused by death of Thomas E. Watson; sworn in Nov. 21, 1922; term expired Nov. 22 with the election of Walter George to the vacancy she filled.

GASQUE, ELIZABETH HAWLEY. Democrat; South Carolina, 6th District. Elected to the 75th Congress in a Sept. 13, 1938, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of her husband, Allard H. Gasque; never sworn in or seated, because Congress was not in session between the time of her election and the expiration of her term.

112th Congresses)GILLIBRAND, KIRSTEN. Democrat; New York, 20th District. Elected to the 110th - 111th Congresses (served in House Jan. 3, 2007 until resignation on Jan. 26, 2009). Appointed to the Senate to fill vacancy caused by resignation of Hillary Clinton; reelected to remainder of term in 2010 and to a full term in 2012. (served in Senate Jan. 27, 2009 - present)

Committee Assignments

Congress

H. Agriculture

110th

H. Armed Services

110th

S. Foreign Relations

111th

Committee assignments:

H. Agriculture (110th Congress)

H. Armed Services (110th Congress)

S. Foreign Relations (111th Congress)

S. Environment and Public Works (111th-S. Environment and Public Works

GRANAHAN, KATHRYN ELIZABETH. Democrat; Pennsylvania, 2nd District. Elected to the 84th Congress in a Nov. 6, 1956, special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of her husband, William T. Granahan, and to the 85th Congress; reelected to the 86th - 87th Congresses. (served Jan. 3, 1957 - Jan. 3, 1963)

93rd Congresses)GRAVES, DIXIE BIBB. Democrat; Alabama, Senator. Appointed by her husband, Governor David Bibb Graves, to the Senate August 18, 1937, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Hugo L. Black. (served August 20, 1937 until her resignation Jan. 10, 1938)

113th Congresses)HAHN, JANICE. Democrat; California, 36th District. Elected to the 112th Congress in a July 12, 2011, special election to fill vacancy created by the resignation of Jane Harman; reelected to the 113th - 114th Congresses. (served July 19, 2011until2011 until her resignation Dec. 4, 2016)

HERSETH SANDLIN, STEPHANIE. Democrat; South Dakota, At-Large. Elected to the 108th Congress in a June 1, 2004 special election, to fill vacancy caused by resignation of William Janklow; reelected to the 109th- 111th Congresses. (served June 3, 2004 - Jan. 3, 2011)

HIRONO, MAZIE. Democrat; Hawaii, 2nd District. Elected to the 110th- 112th Congresses; elected to the Senate in 2012. (served in the House Jan. 3, 2007 - Jan. 3, 2013; served in the Senate Jan. 3, 2013 - present)

Committee Assignments

Congress

Committee assignments:H. Education and Labor / Education and the Workforce

(110th- 112th

112th Congresses)
H. Transportation and Infrastructure

(110th- 112th

H. Small Business

110th

H. Ethics

112th (partial)

S. Armed Services

113th- 112th Congresses)

H. Small Business (110th Congress)

H. Ethics (112th Congress, partial)

S. Armed Services (113th-115th Congresses)

115th

S. Environment and Public Works

113th

S. Judiciary

113th ;S. Environment and Public Works (113th Congress)

S. Judiciary (113th, 115th Congresses)

115th

S. Veterans' Affairs

113th- S. Veterans' Affairs (113th-115th Congresses)

S. Select Intelligence (114th Congress)

115th

S. Select Intelligence

114th

S. Small Business and Entrepreneurship

(114th- 115th

115th Congresses)
S. Energy and Natural Resources

115th

(115th Congress)HOCHUL, KATHY. Democrat; New York, 26th District. Elected to the 112th Congress in a May 24, 2011, special election to fill vacancy caused by resignation of Christopher Lee. (served June 1, 2011 - Jan. 3, 2013)

HUCK, WINNIFRED SPRAGUE MASON. Republican; Illinois, At Large. Elected to the 67th Congress in a Nov. 7, 1922, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of her father, William E. Mason. (served Nov. 20, 1922 - March 3, 1923)

HUTCHISON, KAY BAILEY. Republican; Texas, Senator. Elected on June 5, 1993, to fill vacancy caused by resignation of Lloyd Bentsen. Subsequently elected to a full term in 1994, and reelected in 2000 and 2006. (served June 14, 1993 - Jan. 3, 2013)

(103rd Congress)KEE, MAUDE ELIZABETH. Democrat; West Virginia, 5th District. Elected to the 82nd Congress in a July 16, 1951, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of husband, John Kee; reelected to the 83rd - 88th Congresses. (served July 26, 1951 - Jan. 3, 1965)

(90th Congress)KELLY, ROBIN. Democrat; Illinois, 2nd District. Elected to the 113th Congress in a April 9, 2013, special election to vacancy caused by resignation of Jesse Jackson, Jr; reelected to the 114th- 115thCongresses. (served April 11, 2013 - present)

115th Congresses)LONG, CATHERINE S. Democrat; Louisiana, 8th District. Elected to the 99th Congress in a March 30, 1985, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of husband, Gillis Long. (served April 4, 1985- Jan. 3, 1987)

Committee Assignments

Congress

H. Public Works

99th

H. Small Business

99th

Committee assignments:

H. Public Works (99th Congress)

H. Small Business (99th Congress)

LONG, JILL. Democrat; Indiana, 4th District. Elected to the 101st Congress in a March 28, 1989, special election to fill vacancy caused by resignation of Dan Coats; reelected to the 102nd- 103rd Congresses. (served April 5, 1989 - Jan. 3, 1995)

Committee Assignments

Congress

H. Agriculture

101st- 103rd

Committee assignments:

H. Agriculture (101st-103rd Congresses)

H. Veterans' Affairs (H. Veterans' Affairs

101st- 103rd

101st-103rd Congresses)
H. Select Committee on Hunger

(101st- -102nd Congresses)102nd

LONG, ROSE McCONNELL. Democrat; Louisiana, Senator. Appointed to the Senate Jan. 31, 1936, to fill vacancy caused by death of her husband, Huey Pierce Long; subsequently elected April 21, 1936, in a special election to fill the remaining months of his term. (served Feb. 10, 1936 - Jan. 3, 1937)

MATSUI, DORIS O. Democrat; California, 5th District (109th - 112th Congresses); 6th District (113th Congress - present). Elected to the 109th Congress in a March 8, 2005, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of husband, Robert Matsui; reelected to the 110th - 115thCongresses. (served March 10, 2005 - present)

MILLENDER-McDONALD, JUANITA. Democrat; California, 37th District. Elected to the 104th Congress in a March 26, 1996, special election to fill vacancy caused by resignation of Walter Tucker; reelected to the 105th - 110th Congresses. (served April 16, 1996 until her death April 22, 2007)

MOLINARI, SUSAN. Republican; New York, 14th District (101st - 102nd Congresses) and 13th District (103rd - 105th Congresses). Elected to the 101st Congress in a March 20, 1990, special election to fill vacancy caused by resignation of father, Guy Molinari; reelected to the 102nd - 105th Congresses. (served March 27, 1990 until her resignation August 1, 1997)

MURKOWSKI, LISA. Republican; Alaska, Senator. Appointed to the Senate Dec. 20, 2002, by her father, Frank Murkowski, to the seat he had held before he was elected governor of Alaska. Reelected to a six-year term in 2004, as well as in 2010 and 2016. (served Jan. 3, 2003 - present)

115th Congresses)NOLAN, MAE ELLA. Republican; California, 5th District. Elected to the 67th Congress in a Jan. 23, 1923, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of husband, John Nolan, and also to the 68th Congress. (served Feb. 2, 1923 - March 3, 1925). First woman to chair a congressional committee.

NORRELL, CATHERINE DORRIS. Democrat; Arkansas, 6th District. Elected to the 87th Congress in an April 18, 1961, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of husband, William Frank Norrell. (served April 25, 1961 - Jan. 3, 1963)

OLDFIELD, PEARL PEDEN. Democrat; Arkansas, 2nd District. Elected to the 70th Congress in a Jan. 9, 1929, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of husband, William A. Oldfield, and also to the 71st Congress. (served Jan. 11, 1929 - March 3, 1931)

PELOSI, NANCY. Democrat; California, 5th District (100th - 102nd Congresses), 8th District (103rd - 112th Congresses); 12th District (113th Congress - present). Elected to the 100th Congress in a June 2, 1987 special election to fill vacancy caused by death of Sala Burton; reelected to the 101st - 115th Congresses. (served June 9, 1987 - present) First female Speaker of the House, 110th and 111th Congresses.

Committee Assignments

Congress

Committee assignments:H. Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs

(100th- 101st

H. Government Operations

100th- 101st

H. Appropriations

102nd- 107th

101st Congresses)

H. Government Operations (100th-101st Congresses)

H. Appropriations (102nd-107th Congresses)

H. Standards of Official Conduct

(102nd- 104th

H. Intelligence

104th- 104th Congresses)

H. Intelligence (104th-107th Congresses)

107th

H. Intelligence (Ex Officio)

, 108th- 113th

113th Congresses)PETTIS, SHIRLEY N. Republican; California, 37th District. Elected to the 94th Congress in a April 29,1975, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of husband, Jerry L. Pettis; reelected to the 95th Congress. (served May 6, 1975 - Jan. 3, 1979)

115th Congresses)PLASKETT, STACEY E. Democrat; Delegate from the United States Virgin Islands. Elected to the 115th Congress. (served Jan. 3, 2015 - present)

Committee Assignments

Congress

H. Agriculture

114th- Committee assignments:

H. Agriculture (114th-115th Congresses)

115th

H. Oversight and Government Reform

(114th- 115th

115th Congresses)PRATT, ELIZA JANE. Democrat; North Carolina, 8th District. Elected to the 79th Congress in a May 25, 1946, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of William O. Burgin. (served June 3, 1946 - Jan. 3, 1947)

PYLE, GLADYS. Republican; South Dakota, Senator. Elected to the Senate Nov. 8, 1938, to fill vacancy caused by death of Peter Norbeck; never sworn in and seated, because Congress was not in session between her election and the expiration of the term on Jan. 3, 1939.

115th Congresses)RANKIN, JEANNETTE. Republican; Montana, At Large (65th Congress) and 1st District (77th Congress). Elected to the 65th Congress and the 77th Congress. (served April 2, 1917 - March 4, 1919; Jan. 3, 1941 - Jan. 3, 1943) First woman elected to Congress.

Committee Assignments

Congress

H. Public Lands

65th, 77th

H. Woman Suffrage

65th

H. Insular Affairs

77th

Committee assignments:

H. Public Lands (65th Congress; 77th Congress)

H. Woman Suffrage (65th Congress)

H. Insular Affairs (77th Congress)

REECE, LOUISE GOFF. Republican; Tennessee, 1st District. Elected to the 87th Congress in a May 16, 1961, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of her husband, B. Carroll Reece. (served May 23, 1961 - Jan. 3, 1963)

RICHARDSON, LAURA. Democrat, California, 37th District. Elected to the 110th Congress in an August 21, 2007, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of Juanita Millender-McDonald; reelected to the 111th - 112th Congresses. (served Sept. 4, 2007 to Jan. 3, 2013)

Committee Assignments

Congress

H. Science and Technology

110th

Committee assignments:

H. Science and Technology (110th Congress)

H. Transportation and Infrastructure

(110th- 112th

H. Homeland Security

111th- 112th Congresses)

H. Homeland Security (111th-112th Congresses)

112th

RILEY, CORINNE BOYD. Democrat; South Carolina, 2nd District. Elected to the 87th Congress in an April 10, 1962, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of husband, John J. Riley. (served April 12, 1962 - Jan. 3, 1963)

ROGERS, EDITH NOURSE. Republican; Massachusetts, 5th District. Elected to the 69th Congress in a June 30, 1925, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of husband, John J. Rogers; reelected to the 70th - 86th Congresses. (served Dec. 7, 1925 until her death Sept. 10, 1960)

SMITH, MARGARET CHASE. Republican; Maine, 2nd District, and Senator. Elected to the 76th Congress in a June 3, 1940, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of husband, Clyde H. Smith; reelected to the 77th - 80th Congresses (served in House June 10, 1940 - Jan. 3, 1949). Subsequently elected to the Senate in 1948 and reelected in 1954, 1960, and 1966 (served in Senate Jan. 3, 1949 - Jan. 3, 1973). Chair of the Senate Republican Conference, 1967-1972 (the highest Senate leadership post held by a woman).

Committee Assignments

Congress

H. Election of the President, Vice President, Representatives in Congress

SOLIS, HILDA. Democrat; California, 31st District (107th Congress) and 32nd District (108th - 111th Congresses). Elected to the 107th - 111th Congresses. (served Jan. 3, 2001 until her resignation on Feb. 23, 2009, to become Secretary of Labor)

Committee Assignments

Congress

H. Education and the Workforce

107th

Committee assignments:

H. Education and the Workforce (107th Congress)

H. Resources / Natural Resources

(107th, 110th

Congresses)
H. Energy and Commerce

(108th- -110th Congresses)
110th

H. Select Energy Independence and Global Warming

110th

(110th Congress)SPEIER, JACKIE. Democrat; California; 12th District (110th- 112th Congresses); 14th District (113th Congress - present). Elected to the 110th Congress in an April 8, 2008, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of Tom Lantos; reelected to the 111th- 115th Congresses. (served April 10, 2008 - present)

THOMAS, LERA MILLARD. Democrat; Texas, 8th District. Elected to the 89th Congress in a March 26, 1966, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of husband, Albert Thomas. (served March 30, 1966 - Jan. 3, 1967)

112th Congresses)WATSON, DIANE. Democrat; California, 32nd District (107th Congress) and 33rd District (108th - 111th Congresses). Elected to the 107th Congress in a June 5, 2001, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of Julian Dixon; reelected to the 108th - 111th Congresses. (served June 7, 2001 - Jan. 3, 2011)

Committee Assignments

Congress

Committee assignments:H. Government Reform / Oversight and Government Reform

WILSON, HEATHER. Republican; New Mexico, 1st District. Elected to the 105th Congress in a June 23, 1998, special election to fill vacancy caused by death of Steven Schiff; reelected to the 106th - 110th Congresses. (served June 25, 1998 - Jan. 3, 2009)

Notes: Names of Democratic Representatives and Senators in Italics; Republicans in Roman.

Prior to the adoption of the Twentieth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, effective Oct. 15, 1933, the terms of Representatives and Senators began on March 4, in conformance with a resolution of the Continental Congress implementing the Constitution (adopted Sept. 13, 1788). The Twentieth Amendment provides inter alia that the terms of Representatives and Senators shall commence at noon on Jan. 3, in the year following their election. The first Congress affected by the Twentieth Amendment was the 74th (1935-1937). Since 1934, the first session of a Congress convenes on Jan. 3 of odd-numbered years and adjourned on Jan. 3 the following odd-numbered year. For ease of use, this table lists the closing date of each Congress as an even-numbered year. For more information, see http://www.senate.gov/reference/Sessions/sessionDates.htm.

a.Member did not serve the entire Congress. See biographical information in the Alphabetical Listing section for additional information.

b.Moved from House to the Senate during this Congress. See biographical information in the Alphabetical Listing section for additional information.

c.Gladys Spellman was elected also to the 97th Congress, but was unable to be sworn in because of a disability and her seat was declared vacant on Feb. 24, 1981.

d.Eva Bowring was appointed to serve until a successor was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death or Dwight Griswold. Hazel Abel was elected to fill that vacancy.

e.Was elected but not sworn in since chamber was out of session. See biographical information in the Alphabetical Listing section for additional information.

f.Appointed to fill a vacancy at the end of the 67th Congress, and served for one day.

Table 2. Women in Congress, 65th- -115th Congresses, by State or Territory

Representatives, unless denoted as Senators (S), Delegates (D) or, Resident Commissioner (RC), or as having served in both chambers (B). Names of Democratic Representatives and Senators in Italics; Republicans in Roman.

Notes: The column headings include the following abbreviations: Representatives (Reps), Delegates (Del), and Resident Commissioners (RC).

Three columns include numbers for the House: (1) the number of women Representatives, (2) the number of women non-voting Members (including Delegates and Resident Commissioners), and (3) the total number of women in the House.

Totals are also provided for (1) the number of women in the House and Senate not including non-voting Members and (2) the number of women in the House and Senate including non-voting Members.

For simplification, Congresses are listed in two-year increments. Pursuant to the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified Jan. 23, 1933, "the terms of Senators and Representatives [shall end] at noon on the 3rd day of Jan.." For specific dates, see "Dates of Sessions of the Congress, present-1789," at http://www.senate.gov/reference/Sessions/sessionDates.htm.

a.Includes two House Members who were elected to fill a vacancy and one Senator who was appointed to fill a vacancy.

b.Includes two House Members who were elected to fill a vacancy.

c.Includes one House Member who was elected to fill a vacancy.

d.Includes one House Member who was elected to fill a vacancy and one Senator who was appointed to fill a vacancy.

e.Includes one House Member who was elected to fill a vacancy but not sworn in, one Senator who was elected to fill a vacancy but not sworn in, and one Senator who was appointed to fill a vacancy.

f.Includes four House Members who were elected to fill a vacancy.

g.Includes one Senator who was appointed to fill a vacancy.

h.Includes one House Member who was elected to fill a vacancy, one Senator who was appointed to fill a vacancy, and one Senator who was elected to fill that vacancy.

i.Includes one House Member who died and one House Member elected to fill a vacancy.

j.Includes three House Members who were elected to fill a vacancy.

k.Includes one House Member who was elected to fill a vacancy and one Senator appointed to fill a vacancy.

l.Includes two Senators who were appointed to fill a vacancy.

m.Includes one House Member-elect whose seat was declared vacant due to an incapacitating illness, and one House member who was elected to fill a vacancy.

n.Includes three House Members who were elected to a vacancy.

o.Includes one House Member who died.

p.Includes four House Members who were elected to fill a vacancy.

q.Includes one House Member and one Senator elected to fill a vacancy and one Senator who was appointed to fill a vacancy.

r.Includes one Senator who was elected to fill a vacancy.

s.Includes one House Member who resigned and four House Members who were elected to fill a vacancy.

t.Includes one House Member who died and one House Member who was elected to fill a vacancy.

u.Includes three House Members who were elected to fill a vacancy.

v.Includes four House Members who died and four House Members who were elected to fill a vacancy.

w.Includes two House Members who resigned, one House Member who was elected to fill a vacancy, one Senator who resigned, and one Senator initially elected to the House and then appointed to the Senate.

x.Includes two House Members who resigned and four House Members who were elected to fill a vacancy.

y.Includes one House Member who resigned and three House Members who were elected to fill a vacancy.

z.Includes two House Members who resigned and one House Member who was elected to fill a vacancy.

[author name scrubbed], Specialist on the Congress
([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])

Acknowledgments

Linda Carter, Mabel Gracias, Elli Ludwigson, and Cara Warner provided assistance. [author name scrubbed], former Deputy Director and Senior Specialist, and [author name scrubbed], formerly an Analyst on the Federal Judiciary, were former coauthors of this report.

The total number of female Members of the House includes one Delegate to the House of Representatives from Hawaii prior to statehood, one from the District of Columbia, one from Guam, two from the U.S. Virgin Islands, one from American Samoa, and one Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico.

Prior to the adoption of the Twentieth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, effective Oct. 15, 1933, the terms of Representatives and Senators began on March 4, in conformance with a resolution of the Continental Congress implementing the Constitution (adopted Sept. 13, 1788). The Twentieth Amendment provides inter alia that the terms of Representatives and Senators shall commence at noon on January 3, in the year following their election. The first Congress affected by the Twentieth Amendment was the 74th (1935-1937). Members elected to fill a vacancy are sworn in and commence their terms as soon as possible, as do Senators appointed to fill a vacancy.